PNP with experience applying to Air Force in need of information

[PNP4KIDZ, BSN, RN]

I have been a nurse for 17 years with full and part-time experience including NICU, Newborn Nursery, Peds Inpatient, Lactation Consulting, and Urgent Care. I have had my CPNP for 3 years and have been working full-time in an ER. I have always respected the military and would love to be part of an organization that demands excellence, encourages leadership, and rewards superior work. My husband, family and I really want to go overseas. I realize that the military's needs come first. I am 42 years old and have my first interview with a healthcare recruiter very soon. I have looked for information regarding the process, etc., but very little is available, other than the information needed from the candidate. I have provided nearly all of the needed necessary items, as well as the items requested due to me being over 40. I am in top physical shape, and am planning to get my DNP very soon which the recruiter mentioned on the phone. He mentioned some overseas bases, as well as stateside bases that were needing PNP's. He also mentioned the commissioning in early summer, and COT training in mid-late summer. I also realize that all of the verifications that need to take place could take a lot of time. I would really appreciate any information related to length of process, interview with nursing, waiver for age, and rank considerations. Again, I have been an RN for 17 years and a PNP for over 3 years with my MSN. I think I would make a wonderful provider for the Air Force and am hoping they move forward with me and that the process will allow me to go to COT training this summer. Thank you for any information.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

At this time of the process I recommend listening to the recruiter and focusing on the process and rough timeline of joining... after you get the materials from recruiter (security packet, requirements for resume/cv, letter of motivation, etc) you will have many months of prep time and at the same time waiting for the next board to convene. I would specifically request number of billets vs number of applicants for PNP last fiscal quarter..... From there I would take the paperwork and over time you will want to find billet locations for PNP - this could be via boards or your recruiter.

Key point is recruiter won't have access to all questions.. and the process is a long one.. so I'd approach it optimistic, listen to the info, and understand at this time you might be best to make a good partnership with recruiter and begin a list of questions for later.... and to accept many questions will have open ended answers... that neither you nor recruiter will have control over. So present as a good candidate and you'll gain info along this long application process.

Congrats on beginning your journey!

[PNP4KIDZ, BSN, RN]

Thank you for your response! I have really enjoyed the communication between the recruiter and myself. I will look forward to hearing more about the process. Are you currently a practitioner? If you are, are you practicing in a hospital or clinic setting? You talked about the needs, and checking on the billets related to the number of applicants. Have you noticed a quicker process related to needs? I am patient, and know this process will take time. Thank you again for your helpful information.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Billets refer to the actual position / location. Position is also somewhat based on your rank/rate. PNP will be small enough that somewhere there is essentially a 'listing' showing the billet slots by location / title (and probably ranks eligible). Sometimes with new accessions into military first duty station is at a primary hospital - not sure if this is the case for someone with a specialty such as yours.. if it were the case then it greatly reduces the number of locations and thus gives you a better idea.

It's important to realize that they only project so many months out.. and will only project assignments for those once your orders are cut.. orders are cut after you are accepted.. so that backwards progression means you have no idea where at this point

I am not in the AF.. and am not a NP. But some of this 'stuff' is essentially the same ol in different capacities

[shapely]

The process took me about a year from application to commission. I posted my timeline in the past, you can review my previous posts to find it. I'm AD FNP and a brand new one at that. The process is a steep learning curve from RN to NP but I work with some awesome people. The learning curve from civilian to military hasn't been as hard. Day to day I don't see any difference between being in the military or not being. There are some small differences like mandatory meetings and recalls but overall there's not much difference. Peds will probably be less hours than FNP because you probably don't have as many abnormal labs to look through. Good luck.